FanDuel Picks for Week 5 NFL DFS
We’re already a month into the NFL season, and this week officially marks the beginning of byes. With 4 teams sitting out, the slate consists of 11 games instead of the 13 or 14 that we’ve grown accustomed to. However, there are still plenty of great options to choose from, and there are four games this week with an implied total of 47 or higher. As I always like to mention in the intros of these articles, FanDuel's main slates include the Sunday night game, so don’t forget about the Cowboys and Steelers when you’re crafting your lineups. Without further ado, here are my favorite plays for week 5 on FanDuel.
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson - BAL @ CIN ($8800)
It’s usually safe to assume that I’ll have plenty of exposure to the highest-ceiling quarterback of the week, and this week is no different. With a projected game total of 49 against a weak Cincinnati defense, this game is as likely as any to turn into a shootout. Jackson has been the highest-scoring quarterback on the season, and this definitely won’t be the matchup that slows him down. He’ll come at a high cost of $8800, but a stack of him and Zay Flowers ($6900) is very affordable when taking into account the two prices together.
Brock Purdy - ARI @ SF ($7700)
If you want to go cheaper at quarterback, Brock Purdy is a great option. He showed his potential a couple of weeks ago with 25 points against the Rams, and now he will be playing in what should be a fast-paced game against the Cardinals. They have the highest implied team total on the slate at 28.75, and as much as they like just handing the ball off to Jordan Mason, they are going to have to throw the ball to stay in this game. Kittle is my favorite stacking partner with him, but Deebo and Aiyuk are in play, too.
Other Plays: Jordan Love ($8200), Jayden Daniels ($8700)
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker III - NYG @ SEA ($7400)
In Kenneth Walker’s two starts this season, he has tallied 20 and 31 points, production that simply doesn’t match up with his $7400 price tag. He comes at a great value and gets what should be his best matchup yet at home against the Giants in a game that they are favored to win by 6.5 points. He could be in store for another 20-touch game, and he has as much upside as anyone with his explosive play-making ability.
Kyren Williams - GB @ LAR ($8400)
Volume is key to succeeding on FanDuel, and Kyren Williams represents guaranteed volume. The Rams’ offense has been depleted by injuries, and with no Kupp or Nacua again, you can pencil Williams in for 20+ touches. It should be a competitive game against the Packers with a high implied game total of 49, and Williams should have a much easier time running against this defense than in his previous two matchups against the Bears and 49ers.
Other Plays: Jordan Mason ($8700), Josh Jacobs ($7000), Chuba Hubbard ($6800)
Wide Receivers
George Pickens - DAL @ PIT ($6000)
George Pickens is one of the best value wide receivers on the slate with a price of just $6000, despite catching 7 passes on 11 targets for 113 yards last week against the Colts. He has formed a clear connection with Justin Fields, and now this week they get to face the Cowboys, who have already given up more than 30 points in two games this season. Dallas will also be the most talented offense the Steelers have faced this year, so they may not be able to rely on the defense as much as usual to win this game. Fields should come out throwing, which puts Pickens in a spot to have a great game.
Amari Cooper - CLE @ WAS ($6200)
Speaking of value receivers, Amari Cooper is another exceptional one. Outside of week 3 when he scored 24 points, his season as a whole has been a pretty big disappointment, totaling 10.7 in the other three weeks combined. It’s not for lack of trying though, as he‘s collected 25 targets throughout those three disappointing games. I think this is a week where he can turn that volume into fantasy points, as he lines up against a Commander's secondary that is one of the worst in the league. Jayden Daniels has shown that he can put up big point totals, so the Browns will have to keep throwing the ball to stay competitive in this game. Including Pickens and Cooper in your lineups will net you some nice savings, allowing you to spend up at the other positions.
Jayden Reed - GB @ LAR ($7200)
Jayden Reed is more expensive than the first two receivers listed, but still comes at a discount compared to the elites, despite performing like one through 2 weeks with Jordan Love. Ignoring the weeks with Malik Willis at the helm, Reed has put up two shockingly similar giant performances. He started the year with 4 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles and got right back to it last week with 6 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings. He has slate-winning upside with Love throwing him the ball, and his price hasn’t quite caught up to that fact yet.
Other Plays: Diontae Johnson ($7100), Zay Flowers ($6900), DJ Moore ($6400)
Tight Ends
George Kittle - ARI @ SF ($7000)
As I mentioned earlier, Purdy is one of my favorite quarterbacks for this week, and George Kittle is my favorite option to stack him with. Tight ends as a whole have disappointed this season, as evidenced by Kittle being the most expensive one on this slate at only $7000. Since the top options are so cheap, there’s really no need to pay down at the position most of the time, so it shouldn’t be too hard to fit him in your lineups, and he is projected for the most points among the weak position this week.
Trey McBride - ARI @ SF ($6500)
If you decide to stack Purdy with players beside Kittle, then McBride makes perfect sense as a bring-back to that stack. His production hasn’t quite lived up to the hype just yet, but he’s tallied 21 targets through his first 3 games which is all you can ask for when choosing your tight end. He still needs to officially clear concussion protocol, but assuming he does, he should come into the week with fresh legs in a game where the Cardinals will have to throw a lot if they want to win. Tight ends can feel like rolling dice week to week in fantasy, so you might as well at least pick one with the most upside if things do fall into place.
Other Plays: Brock Bowers ($6300), Tucker Kraft ($5300)
Defenses
Expensive - Seattle Seahawks vs NYG ($4800)
Mid-Priced - Denver Broncos vs LV ($4000)
Cheap - Carolina Panthers at CHI ($3100)
Favorite Game Stacks
(Highlighted team represents my favorite side of the game to stack)
Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers @ Los Angeles Rams
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals
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